Passive-aggressive behavior in the Workplace

Have you been to the website, passiveaggressivenotes.com? 

If you haven’t, you need to click that link ASAP!

A common issue in the workplace is dealing with passive-aggressive co-workers, subordinates or supervisors.  While that website definitely pokes some fun (which I truly appreciate) at the issue, it is serious enough to cause career train wrecks if you let it.

I won’t pretend I haven’t participated in my share of passive-aggressive behavior in life, which includes work; however, I recognized it and challenged myself to knock it off.  And you know what?  Things at work got better!  I think most of us can be found guilty of doing it at one point or another, what’s important is realizing it before your career suffers because of it…whether you’re the culprit or someone else in your workplace is.

Sometimes, when you work at a desk for 8 hours a day and often with stressful circumstances, it’s hard to get perspective inside your cubicle.  I’ve found that walking the hallways or going outside for a minute always helps.  It can be really vital to your work to make yourself check out for a minute…or 10. 

I found the blog post from Iowa State University Human Resources (link below) pretty helpful as well…it points out how you recognize the behavior and then how to deal with it if you’re a co-worker or supervisor of a passive-aggressive person.

Working with Passive Aggressive Behavior When Developing Trusting Relationships

I challenge you to read it, identify it in your workplace, and then work toward breaking those bad behaviors before they break you … and/or your career.

Lindsey Mathews
New View Board Member & Outreach Committee Chair
Project Delivery Coordinator
Shive-Hattery Inc